Submarine viewing apparatus.



No. 783,730. PATENTED PEB. 28, 1905.

F. MQMAHON.

SUBMARINB VIEWING APPARATUS.

APPLIUATION FILED APR.19, 1904.

WITNESSES'.

INVENTOFQ',

fg/WA am. "reame,

Patented February 28, 1905.

FF I C E.

FhA NCIS MCMAHUN, F SOMERVILLE, MASSACI-IUSICT'IS.

SUBlVlAlilNE. VIEWING FFAFIATUS,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 783,730, dated February 28, 1905.

Application filed .pril 19, 1904. Serial No. 208,916.

To MN, wit/mt IT'/ 'may concer-7L:

Be it known that l., FRANCIS llllohfliiuoN, of Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and State of lvlassachusetts, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Submarine Viewing` Apparatus, of which the following a specification.

'.lhis invention has for its object to provide an apparatus` adapted to permit an inspection ol? submerged surfaces, suoli as the beds of rivers and other bodies olI water or the surfaces olf' sunken vessels, &c.

rlhe invention consists in the improvements which l wlll now proceed to describe and claim.

The accom pai'iying drawing represents a side elevation, partly in section, ot' an appar ratus embodying my invention. Y

represents a sight-tube having' at one end a lens t', which is preferably fitted in an enlargement c of the tube. Said enlargement may have two or more lenses, it' desired. The tube is ot' suitable length to extend from above the surface of a body of water to a pointnear the bottom or other submerged object to be viewed, so that an observer above the surface may apply his eye to the upper end of the tube and view the said object.

represents an electric lamp, which may be ot' ordinary construction. c represents a holder for said lamp, which is adapted to eX- clude water from the lamp and is suitably connected with the tube a, so that the whole may be moved together into and out of the water. The preferred connection between the tube and lamp-holder comprises a standard nl, arms (W o, connecting the standard with the tube, and arms al l 5, connecting the standu ard with the lamp-holder. The arms (Z2 may be adjustably secured to the standard, said arms being' formed to be clamped upon the standard by means of bolts e. The lampholder comprises a transparent section 2, prei'u erably a glass globe, which protects the bulb 3 ol the lamp, a flexible section 4s, which incloses the mouth ot' the section 2 and the lamp socket 5, and a tubular flexible section 6, which incloses the circuit-wires T 7 and is attached to the sight-tube. The upper portion of the flexible section covering the lamp-switch 8 is sulliciently flexible to permit the turning ol t connected.

with the bed oliE the river or other body of4 water or the surface to be inspected. lhe observer at the upper end ot' the sight-tube is therefore enabled to conveniently inspect the illuminated region. (l being out ol alinement with the sight-tube, said standard ollers no obstruction to the view ol the bed oi'l the river or other surface to be inspected.

l do not limit inyseli to the details of construction here shown and described, and the same may be variously moditied without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The sight-tube may be composed of sections detachably connected, so. that the tube as a whole may be made of any desired length. I prefer to make each section about siX feet long and provide it with screw-threads or other means `for coupling it to anothersection. The sight-tube is, however, non-adjustable in length when in use, having no parts which are in sliding contact with each other.

All partsot' the apiiaratus which are submerged are immovably connected, and therefore they can be and are constructed so as to be absolutely water-tight throughout, which could not be the case it' the tube were made ot sections slidably, and therefore movably,

Moreover, said immovable connection of the parts prevents any distiirbance of their relative arrangements or positions by movement ot' the water or any effect oi' buoyancy.

I claim"- l. An apparatus oil the character stated, comijnising a sight-tube provided with a lens immovable relatively to the upper portion of the tube, an electric lamp adjacent to the lens and at one side ol? and connected with the tube, said tube and lamp being adapted to be inserted in a body ot water, and means for Owing to the standard.

IOO

limiting downward movement of the apparatus, said means being located at one side of the line of sight through the tube and .lens whereby a direct view downward through the tube and lens will not be obstructed by said limiting' means.

2. An apparatus of the. character stated comprising asight-tube provided with a lens, a water-tight lamp-holder having a transparent section, an electric lamp inclosed in said holder, the said holder having a tubular extension inclosing the circuit-wires of the lamp, anda standard projecting downward below the lower end of the sight-tube and at one side thereof to limit downward movement of the apparatus, .all of the parts being immovably connected.,

y FRANCIS MCMAHON. Witnesses:

C. F. BROWN, L. E. KENNEDY. 

